Workman&#39;s time-recorder.



R. S. BLAIR.

WORKMAN'S TIME RECORDER.

APPLIGATION FILED $32125, 1907. RBNEWEB 112.11.29, 1911.

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Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

R. S. BLAIR.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig- 3 WORKMANS TIME RECORDER.

APPLIOATIGN FILED SEPT.25,1907. RENBWBD MAR. 29, 1911. 1,040,859.

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corder, in which records of -Uivrriio STATES PATENT clarion.

ROBERT S, BLAIR, 0F NEW ROCHELLE, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATONAL TIME RECORBING COMPANY 0F NEW YORK, 0F ENlDICOTT, NEW YORK, A. CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

,WORKMANS TIME-RECRBER.

Patentes oet. 8,1912.

l.application led September 25, 1907, Serial No. 394,518. Renewed March 29, 1911. Serial No. $17,738.

To all whom tt may comem:

Be it known that I,v ROBERT S. BLAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing .at New Rochelle, in the county' of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Worlnnenls Time-Recorders, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to time recording apparatus.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a practical and eilicient workmens time redifferent classes are readily distinguished.

Another object is to provide a time re'- corder of the above type, characterized by the accuracy of action and economy of power.

Another object is to provide a time recorder in which power lis taken during the use of the instrument and stored for use in operating certain parts thereof.

Another object is to provide simple and practical means for shifting a printing ribbon in a lateral direction.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features vof construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

ln the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention: Figure 1 is a sectional front elevationthereof. Fig. 2 is a sectional Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on the line X--X of Fig. 1. Figrt is a detail view of spring mechanism. "Fig 5 is a detail perspective View of locking and releasing mechanism.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts-throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referringnow to Fig. 1 of the drawings,

there is shown a casing 1 having journaled in its side walls rock' shaft 2,.uponwhich is fixed an lactuating lever 3. Also mounted -upon the rock shaft 2 is a crank arm 4 connected as hy a lin-k 5 with a swinging platen o. vFlaten 6 is adapted to co-act with print-- ing wheels 7 and 8 driven from clock-work 9 in any desired manner. Mounted upon the casing 1 adjacent the printing wheels 7 ,and 8 is a card receiver l0 of any desired construction adapted to hold a record card in any desired position toreceive an impression from thetype wheels upon being ,forced against the same by the platen 6.

lt is to be understood that the above described parts are somewhat rdiagrammatically shown and various adjustments such ,as a lateral movement of the card receiver fare omitted, as they in 'themselves form no part of the present invention.

p Mounted between the type wheels and the card receiver 10 is a printing ribbon 11 coinprising a plurality of diiferently colored portions as 12 and 13 adapted to impart corresponding colors to the record upon the same being brought in operative relation to the type wheels and record card. This ribbon 11 is mounted upon spools 14 which are .slidahly mounted upon upright spindles 15, and, the latter being driven in any desired manner, are adapted to be driven thereby as 'by the splined connection 1G. The ribbon 11 is laterally shifted by means of forked arms 17 upon a rock shaft 18, these arms being provided with pins 19 taling into grooved collars 2O upon the spools 1li. lt will thus be seen that upon the rock shaft 18 occupying a position in which the pins 19 are depressed 'the portion 12 will be in operative' relation to the type wheels, and is ada ted to be driven through the spline 16 as a ove noted. lf, however, the rock shaft 18 bel swung to elevate the pins 19 the spools 1a are. drawn upwardly to bring the ribbon portion 13, which is of a different color, in operative relation to the type wheels and cause a corresponding change in the. color of the record formed by the instrument.

The means by which the oscillation of the rock shaft 18 is brought about comprise an arm 21 fixed thereon and provided with a4 roller 22 entering the sinuous groove 28 of a cylindrical cam 2li. This cam is so formed as upon being turned throughout a redetermibbon. lCam 24 is mounted upon a shaft 25 mined degree to swing the arm 21 rom one' 105 journaled within suit-able bearings 26 and having secured thereto one end of a coiled spring 27. "lhe opposite end ot this spring is secured to a casing 28 loosely journaled upon the shaft 25 andv provided with .a ratchet connection 2S) whereby it is held fast, and permits the spring 27 to exert its torce upon the shaft 25. lhe'winding of spring 27 is brought about bya. casing 30 loosely fitted about the casing 28 and provided on its outer surface with ratchet teeth 31. These teeth are engaged by a pawl 32 upon a link 33 pivotally connected with an arm 34 upon the shaft 2. 1t will thus be seen that suitable guides for the pawl 32 being provided the same will be forced downwardly at each depression ofthe actuating or printing lever 3, and turn the casing throughout a portion of a revolution. rlhis movement `with the spring in a wound or coiled condition exerts noA eiiect upon the latter member, but if the spring be unwound as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, it engages a locking pin l35 slidably mounted in an opening in the casing 28 and normally urged inwardly by a spiral spring 36 against the outer coil of spring 27. ln casing 30,

moreover, are a number of 'openings 37 adapted to register with the pin 35 and upon the spring becoming nearly unwound, as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, this `pin is pressed outwardly and through one of these openings 37, thus locking together the casings 28 and 30. 1Withthe parts in this condition the casing 28 will be rot-ated as the instrument is used, and the spring again wound up, whereupon pin 35 is withdrawn to an inoperative condition by the spring 36. By this mechanism the shaft 25 is constantly urged in a predetermined direction, deriving its energy for this movement from the hand ofi the workmen in using the instrument. lt may be here noted that a spring wound. or distortedin this manner may be utilized in driving other parts of the recorder than the ribbon shifting mechanism if desired. lt may also be noted that the term distort is used t-hroughout this description and the following claims with reference to a spring as denoting any change from its normal free state, whether the same be bending, boiling, twisting or otherwise.

Mounted upon shaft 25 are a pair of members 38 and 39 provided with roller pins 40 and 4l extending from the same in radial directions. Pins 40 are adapted to 'co-act with a disk 42 provided with a slot 43 adapted upon the registry with .the pins, to permit the same to pass therethrough. Pins 41 are mounted to co-act with disks 44 and 45 upon an uprightshaft 46 as best indicated in Fig. 5 of' the drawings. The upper disk' 44 is provided with slots or openings 47, whereby the pins 41 may pass through the same and restagainst the disk 45; and

Leccese the latter member is provided with slots 48, whereby a pin resting upon the lower disk may at a predetermined time pass through the same, and permit the next of the pins 41 to rest upon the disk 44. The shaft 46, well as shaft 49. upon which the disk 42 is mounted, are driven in any desired manner from the clock-work and preferably at such rates as to cause the former shaft to rotate once in 24 hours and shaft 49 to rotate once in 15 minutes.

The operation ot the above described embodiment of this invention is substantially as follows: Assuming that it be desired that during the hours of labor the'ribbon portion 12 is to be in operative relation to the type wheels, and out of hours of labor the portion 13 is to be in such relation, it will be' movement oit' this disk, accurate adjustment Y might be necessary to release the pin 41 at a predetermined instant, but it is to be noted that this pin with the shaft 25 is not released until the slot 43 ot' disk 42 is brought opposite the corresponding pin 40. The latter relatively fast moving member brings its slot into registering position at precisely the desired instant, and the pir 41 then falls- -upon the disk 45.

This movement of shaft. 25 shifts the ribbon to bring another color in operative relation by the mechanism above described. To shift the ribbon back again at the end of the period of labor, a slot 48 in disk 45 comes under the pin- 41. which has passed the disk 44 and is resting against disk 45. The next pin 40, there being twice as many pins 40 as `pins 41, is then released at the proper time by the disk 42, and the following` pin 4l is permitted to drop upon the top disk 44. This pin is in vturn released by a proper slot in the disk 44,

and it will be seen that by means of this disk the ribbon may be shifted at any desired time, and that such action will occur at precisely the desired instant. 1t will thus be seen that there is provided a source of power, namely the coiling spring 27, which is potentially adapted to shift the ribbon, and that this power becomes active at predetermined times, governed by the clockwork. It may here` be notcgl that the terms of the nature ot' potential are used throughout this description and the vfollowing claims in a broad sense to denote any temporarily inactive form of energy, Whether of mechanical or electric nature or otherwise.

It will. thus be seen that Ihave provided mechanism in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and the above enumerated advantages are among others present.

The-entire mechanism is simple and inexpensive, and not likely to become deranged, and the action of the parts is positive and accurate.

As many changes could be 'made in the above construction and many apparently Widely diierent embodiments of this yinvention could be made' Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim# 1. In a time recorder, in combination, record forming mechanism, record-changing means comprising a spring adapted to change a characteristic of records formed by said mechanism, hand actuated means adapted to distort said spring, and clock-controlled means adapted to release said spring to atuate said record-changing means, said clock-controlled means being formed and driven to release said spring only at the beginning and terminal points of periods of labor.

2. In a time recorder, in combination, printing Wheels, a multi-colored ribbon mounted adjacent said printing Wheels, means comprising a spring adapted to shift said ribbon to change the 'color thereof in operative relation to said printing Wheels, hand actuated means adapted to distort said spring, and clock-controlled means adapted to release said spring to actuate said ribbon shifting means,

3. In a time recorder, in combination, printing wheels, a multi-colored ribbon mounted adjacent said printing Wheels, means comprising a spring adapted to shift said ribbon to change the color thereof in operative relation to said printing Wheels, hand actuated means adapted to distort said spring, and clock-controlled means adapted to release said spring to actuate said ribbon shifting means, said clock-controlled means being formed and driven to release said spring at the beginning and terminal points of periods of labor. v

et. In a time recorder, in combination, record forming mechanism, means comprising a source of power potentially adapted to change a characteristic of records formed by said mechanism prior to the beginning and terminal points of periods of labor, and clock-controlled means adapted only at-the beginning and terminal points of said periods of labor to render operative said source of power.

5. In a time recorder, in combination, printing wheels, a multicolored ribbon mounted adjacent said Wheels, means comprising a springadapted to shift said printing ribbon in a direction to change the color of the portion thereof in opera-tive relation to said Wheels, hand actuated means adapted to distort said spring prior to the beginninfr and terminal points of periods of labor, an clock-controlled means adapted to release said spring to shift said ribbon at said beginning and terminal points, said spring being adapted upon being distorted to store power to shift said ribbon a plurality of times.

6. In a time recorder, in combination, printing Wheels, a multi-colored ribbon mounted adjacent said Wheels, means vcomprising a source of power potentially adapted to shift said printing ribbon to change the color thereof in operative relation to said printing Wheels, and cloclocontrolled means adapted to render said source of power operative at the beginning and ter-l minal points of periods of labor.

7. In a time recorder, in combination, printing Wheels, a multi-colored ribbon .mounted adjacent said printing Wheels, means comprising a spring adapted to shift said ribbon to change the color thereof in operative relation to said printing Wheels whereby the energy for shifting said ribbon is derived from said spring, means adapted to release said spring to shift said ribbon, and clock Work controlling said releasing means to render records formed Within periods of labor of a distinctive color.

8. In a time recorder, in combination, printing Wheels, multi-colored printing ribbon, ribbon spools having mounted there on said printing ribbon and slidably mount ed adjacent said printing Wheels, a rock .shaft connected with said spools, and adapt-y ed to shift said ribbon laterally, means coinprising a spring adapted to oscillate said rock shaft, hand actuated means adapted to distort said spring, and clock controlled means adapted to release said spring and permit the same to shift said ribbon.

9. In a time recorder, in combination, printing Wheels, a multi-colored printing ribbon, ribbon spools having mounted thereon said printing ribbon and slidably mounted adjacent said printing Wheels, a rock shaftkconnected with said spools, and adapted to shift said ribbon laterally, an arm upon said rock shaft, a cam providedwith a sinuous groove adapted to engage said arm and oscillate said rock shaft and timecontrolled means adapted to affect the action of said cam.

10. In a time recorder, in. combination, record forming means, means comprisinga lil source of power potentially adapted to eliange a characteristic of records formed thereby, a pair of clock driven members, and means depending-.upon the conjoint action of said members adapted to render said source of power operative to change a characteristic 'of the records.

11. In a time recorder, in combination, record formingmeans, means comprising a source of power potentially adapted to change a characteristic of records formed thereby, a pair of clock driven members, and means depending upon the conjoint action ofsaid members adapted to render said source of power operative to change a characteristic of the records, said clock-driven members being driven at diil'erent rates oi" speed.

12. In a time recorder, in combination printincgr Wheels, a multi-colored printing ribbon mounted adjacent said printing Wheels, means comprisinga spring adapted to shiftisaid ribbon to bring a portion of a different color in operative relation to said printing- Wheels, hand actuated means adapted to distort said spring, a pair of clockdiiven members, and means controlled by the conjoint action of said members adapted to release said springr and cause the shifting of said ribbon.

13. In a time recorder, in combination, printing Wheels, a multi-colored print-ing` ribbon mounted adjacent0 said printing Wheels, means comprising a spring adapted to shift said-ribbon to bring a portion. of a different color in operative relation to said printing Wheels, hand actuated means adapt-Y ed to distort said spring, a pair of cloclrdriven members, and means controlled by the conjoint action of said members adapted tov release said spring and cause the sliiftimgl of said ribbon, said clock-driven means being driven at different rates of speed, and being so formed and so driven as to permit the release of said spring at the beginning yand terminal points of periods of labor.

141. In a time recorder, in combination, printing Wheels, a multi-colored printing ribbon mounted adjacent said printing` Wheels, means comprising a spring adapted to shift said ribbon to bring a portion of a different color in operative relation to said printing Wheels, hand actuated means adapted to distort said spring, a pair of clockdriven members, and means controlled by the conjoint action of said members adapted to release said spring and cause the shifting of said ribbon, each of said clock-driven members being formed and positioned to in- Loaders dependent-ly prevent 'the release oi springa 15. In a time recorder, in combination, recordk forming. means, an actuatiiig lever adapted to operate said record forming means, reo'ord-cl'ianging1 iieans comprisingn a ated means adapted toA release said spring,r to L actuate said record-eliaiipjing,` means.

1G. In atime recorder, .in combination, printing Wheels, a. multi-colored printii ribbon mounted adjacent the same., an ao tuating lever adapted to cause said printin Wheels to form a record, means comprisingl spring adapted to shift said ribbon "to change the color thereofl inoperative reia tion to said printing Wheels, connecting means between said actuatinpr ir -i and s spring whereby said lever is adap tort said spring, and elocleeontrolled ".eans adapted to release said springv and cause the shifting of said ribbon.

17. In a time recorder, in combina printing Wheels, a multi-colored print ribbon mounted adjacent the same, an ac ating lever adapted to cause said print' wheels to form a record, means comprisn, a spring adapted to shift said ribbon to change the color thereof in operative relax tion to said printing Wheels, connecting,o means between said actuating lever and said spring` Wherebysaid lever is adapted to di tort said spring, eloelr'controlied me adapted to release said spring an ea shitting of said ribbon, and means in accordance With the condition spring adapted torcnder said connection i operative.

18. In a time recorder, in combin printing wheels, a multi-colored prinJ ribbon mounted adjacent said Wheels, me comprising a source of poiver potentia adapted to shift said printing ribbon change the color thereof in operativereia-f. tion to said printing Wheels, and means adapted to render said source of power operative to shift said ribbon to render records RBQERI VRAIE.

Witnesses Davie B. Nn'ii,

E. B. NETH. 

